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Russell Lorfing is a multi-award-winning trial lawyer, former federal prosecutor, and managing partner at Keith & Lorfing, a West Texas-based trial law firm. He and his team have handled thousands of cases and hundreds of jury trials, representing individuals and corporations in high-stakes criminal defense and complex federal matters around the country. Mr. Lorfing’s clients range from billionaires to CEOs to doctors to working-class individuals, reflecting the breadth and seriousness of the cases he handles.
Before entering private practice, Mr. Lorfing served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Lubbock, Texas, where he prosecuted federal crimes, and led a human trafficking task force on Saipan, a U.S. territory in the Pacific. He previously clerked for the Honorable Barbara Harvey on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Lorfing is the founder of Learn Federal Sentencing, an online program that teaches attorneys, academics, and families how to navigate and interpret the federal sentencing guidelines. He is also the creator of Freedom Fighters, a leadership program focused on strengthening working-class families, and the author of This Too Shall Pass, a daily devotional written for incarcerated men.
As a former state and federal prosecutor, Russell has served as lead counsel in dozens of complex jury trials. He has extensive knowledge in electronic evidence and the Electronic Communication Privacy Act. In 2017, he was designated as a Cyber Hacking Intellectual Property Prosecutor by the United States Attorney’s Office and oversaw cyber investigations throughout West Texas. He has been recognized nationally for his work on white collar investigations by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Homeland Security, and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for his prosecutorial accomplishments and years of service to the American people.
Due to his extensive experience, Russell was frequently asked to give lectures for various law enforcement agencies and organizations, including the FBI, IRS, DEA, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Russell is also considered by the Department of Justice to be an expert on the admissibility of electronic evidence and was asked by the United States Attorney in the Northern District of Texas to provide training on this issue to federal prosecutors in Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Abilene, and Amarillo.
Mr. Lorfing is a fierce advocate for the working-class. Over the years, he has built a reputation for unapologetically fighting to level the playing field for hardworking West Texans. He has intentionally chosen not to represent corporations or the one percenters. Instead, he fights for people like him – honest, family-oriented folks who know the value of hardwork.
His authentic, plain-spoken approach to each and every case affords him the ability to connect with clients in ways that other lawyers cannot. You’re just as likely to find him at a client’s family bbq or fishing and hunting with his clients on the weekends as you are to find him advocating for them in a courtroom. He has a certain charisma that juries love and judges respect. As one colleague described him, “Russell is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He can be warm and friendly but he’s a different animal once he steps into the courtroom.”
Russell is a fifth generation Texan who prides himself on his Texas roots. He still believes a handshake and a man’s word matters. After law school, Russell found his way to Lubbock, where he worked as a federal prosecutor in the high plains of West Texas. As an Assistant United States Attorney, Russell handled cases from the Panhandle to the Big Country to the Concho Valley and everywhere in between. He now lives with his family in Abilene, Texas.
2
Practice Areas
17 years | 1,000 cases
7 years | 100 cases
Sometimes
State: District of Columbia
Acquired: 2014
No misconduct found
State: Texas
Acquired: 2009
No misconduct found
Other places you can find Russell online.
84 Client Reviews
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Showing 16 - 20 of 84 reviews
Posted by Jeremy | August 29, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Greatest Attorney!
The team at Keith & Lorfing are amazing and will help you come out on top of any case with experience and professionalism. They are pro-active and handle everything fast, so all the hard work and battles of the case will be done without you knowing. Which was great for me, I didn't stress about my ...
Posted by Ericka | July 20, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Thank you!
The way Mr. Lorfing helped me with my husbands Jesse case went above and beyond. He was there to walk me thru the entire process, and any concern I had he always explained it very well to me. Of course there is only so much that a lawyer can do when things aren't t always the way the are suppose to ...
Posted by Kathy | July 19, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Gary and Kathy Lindley
Our personal experience could not have been better. These attorneys worked diligently and stayed in constant contact with us regarding the developments in our case. We always had the final say in any offers made by the prosecution. If I could only say one thing about them it would be “they listen” I ...
Posted by Ann & Aaron | June 25, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Litigation
Absolute best Law FIrm
I really can’t put into words how great this law firm is and what they did for our family!!!! From day 1 when I called there office and needed advice really quickly, like that day within 3 hours, they didn’t just say let me take a message and call you back, she called Russell when he wasn’t even in ...
Posted by Amy | June 23, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
What a man, what a man, what a man , What a mighty good man ! Lyrics by Salt-N-Pepa
Russell Lorfing is the man for the job!! I can’t thank you enough. I had never been in such serious trouble before until recently. I lost all faith in the justice system due to my family being friends with law enforcement and having it out for me. I was scared and felt completely alone until I met Ru...
"Mr. Lorfing has long been an outstanding attorney, both as a prosecutor and for the defense. There is absolutely no one I would recommend ahead of him in the areas he practices in."
"Russell is experienced, intelligent, and caring. He is very passionate about representing his clients and going the extra mile."
"There is not a more tenacious fighter that you can have on your side than Russell. He is smart,, caring, and dedicated. He can negotiate when needed but is not afraid to take a matter to trial...and win! I have seen his work up close. Not only would I refer clients to him, I would hire him if I needed help."
"Russell is a fantastic advocate for his clients! He tirelessly works to ensure that he has the best approach in every case in order to best serve his clients. I had the opportunity to work with him when we were both federal prosecutors and to consult with him on cases since we both entered private practice. Russell never stops learning because he not only wants the best result for his client, he truly cares about what happens to the client. His natural trial abilities combined with the passion he has for his clients sets him above the other attorneys in West Texas. I endorse Russell without hesitation!"
"Russell Lorfing is a great advocate with a lot of experience handling both simple and extremely complex matters. Russell and I were at law school together and advocated with and against each other, and even back then and he was a fantastic advocate. After he graduated, he became a respected Federal Prosecutor, and he’ll use that experience to help you when you need it most. Russell has all the tools a great lawyer needs to get the best results for his clients. Highly Recommend him to anyone who finds themselves needing a legal bodyguard."
"Russell Lorfing is a hard charging federal defense attorney with stellar credentials and an unmatched work ethic. More importantly though, Russell is a devoted family man and friend. He cares about his clients, sees his work as purpose, and treats every client problem as if the problem were his own. Russell has a great attitude, works well with opposing counsel, is professional, and will go the extra mile. He believes in doing the right thing and treating others with respect and dignity. Russell has a way with people and strives to leave everyone he meets feeling good about who they are."
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2023
Best Lawyers in Abilene - 2023, Community Votes
2023
Best Motor Vehicle Crash attorney in Abilene, Expertise.com
2022
Client's Choice Award, Avvo
2021
Avvo's 2021 Client Choice Award, Avvo
2020
Prosecutor Achievement and Accomplishment Award, Federal Bureau of Investigation; Lubbock Division
2020
Top 40 Under 40, National Trial Lawyers
2017
Designated at Cyber Hacking and Intellectual Property Attorney, United States Department of Justice
2016
Prosecutor Accomplishment Award, Custom and Border Prosecution
2015
Chief's Investigative Excellence Award, Internal Revenue Service
2009
Law Alumnus Award, St. Mary's Alumni Association
2020 - Present
Managing Partner, The Keith & Lorfing Law Firm, PLLC
2014 - 2020
Assistant United States Attorney, United States Department of Justice
2012 - 2014
Associate, Brock Guerra Strandmo Dimaline Jones, P.C.
2010 - 2012
Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General
2009 - 2010
Law Clerk, Texas Court Of Appeals
2020 - Present
Abilene Bar AssociationMember
2020 - Present
National Association of Former Assistant United States Attorneys (NAFAUSA)President
2020 - Present
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers AssociationAffiliate Member
2016 - Present
Lubbock County Bar AssociationMember
2012 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
2009 - Present
Texas State BarMember
2012 - 2014
San Antonio Young Lawyers AssociationDirector
Case dismissed in the interest of justice
Caes dismissed in the interest of justice
NOT GUILTY
Not Guilty
Case dismissed based on a 5th Amendment violation
2009
JD - Juris Doctor
2003
Bachelor of Arts
2024
Busted by the Feds: Prosecuting and Defending Federal Criminal Cases
2023
Do Better: How to Win Cases, Make Millions, and Grow Your Practice
2020
Why Meta Matters
2019
Get Rich Quick: A Banker's Guide to Money Laundering
2019
Digital Sex Crimes in the Age of Millennials: Cyber Stalking, Sextortion, and Revenge Porn
2019
You Never Saw it Coming: Identity Theft and the Dark Web
2019
The New and Improved Search Warrant for the Digital World
Spanish
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